Stephen Cook reports:
The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into the National Bullying Helpline because of concerns about the charity’s protection of confidential information and its referral of callers to a business connected with one of the trustees.
The helpline has been at the centre of the row about alleged bullying by the Prime Minister after its co-founder, Christine Pratt, said people working in No 10 Downing Street had called the helpline. This was criticised as a breach of confidence by other charities.
The charity suspended its service earlier in the week but has now put a statement on its website saying it has resumed. A statement from the commission, however, says it understands the trustees have suspended the service.
The commission statement said the inquiry was a response to increasing public concern about the charity, including more than 160 complaints received by the commission this week. It has made an order preventing the transmission or disclosure of information by the charity, including details of the confidential calls it has received, without the permission of the commission.
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